John
John (1167-1216). King of England, the youngest son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He tried unsuccessfully to seize power in 1193 while his brother, Richard I, was absent on the third Crusade. On Richard’s death (1199) he was recognized as king in England but Anjou and Brittany supported the rival claim of his nephew, Arthur. John captured Arthur and is believed to have had him murdered. In 1215 a number of barons rose in revolt against his tyranny and forced him to seal the Magna Carta, a document confirming their feudal rights.
